Need Help & Tips for Improving Sims 4 Gameplay – Any Recommendations?

Must-have mods or CC

• MCCC - impossible to live without. Means you can live without many stand alone mods.
• BetterBuildBuy + T.O.O.L - give you a much better way to work with your catalogue when building
• Sleep all night, no autograb food, choose who to call to meal and lockable doors by LMS. Just make the game run smoother. 
• Any of the mods that means that people sit down at a table when eating and stay seating even when greeting others, to avoid musical chairs. Also: no auto cleaning dishes after eating (Bienchien) meaning people will stay seated and talk during dinner instead of running off as soon as they're finished. 

Fun challenges to try (Rags to Riches, Legacy, Not So Berry, etc.)

• I really have enjoyed the decades challenge, though I play it by my rules and not some rules set by someone else. For me it means progression in the game as time pass which I find hard to emulate otherwise. It also forces you to use new CAS assets and new furniture that is not your real style to try and model your game based on what is possible at the time. Your sim fell in love with a sim of the same gender, only it's 1920 and it's illegal - how do you deal with that?
• Another challenge I thought I'd set myself when I'm done with my decades challenge is a pack-challenge, only letting base game be available at start then unlocking a new pack which each generation forcing myself to use that one pack as much as possible without ever using CC but forcing myself to use the assets in the pack. 

Performance tweaks to make the game run smoother

• Repetition, repetition, repetition. Using the same asset (different swatches is fine), over and over in builds, especially big ones, help performance a lot as it's less to load. So if a counter is used in the kitchen, the same counter might be used in the bathroom. This is especially important in rentals. Also only decorate the spaces you are using.

2- Best expansion/game packs worth buying in 2025

My current favourite is Life & Death, but followed by Horse Ranch, Enchanted by Nature and Werewolves (GP). I like all the packs though because I try to make use of everything 😅

3- Fun challenges to try (Rags to Riches, Legacy, Not So Berry, etc.)

Not a challenge but I strongly recommend trying out rotational play if you haven't.

5- Creative build or storytelling ideas

I have an idea of creating an orphanage where all of the orphans are sims who have been reborn. I already have an orphanage but it was a lot of work to create parents for the kids and then get rid of them, so it would be smoother this way.

Interesting question! Everyone plays different I guess, but I think the 'no happy environment' mod is a big one. TS4 has a good mood system but it ends up being totally overwhelmed by happy moodlets for the environment. It's not that I don't like this moodlet, but it's overpowered and happens too often and too much on typical lots with lots of decorative items. When it's taken out the mood system suddenly gets a lot more realistic and interesting.

Agree with everyone else who said MCCC, it just gives lots of important options to make the world work how you want it to.

I found the money system didn't work great for me, it seems too easy to get rich. I use MCCC to set bills higher. I also use mods to increase the cost of university fees. However, I also use a mod that makes the pay higher as sims go up the career scale. I feel that's more realistic as sims with higher careers get wealthy, and keeps the lifestyle of sims with less income more realistic. I don't expect my sims who own a pineapple farm to become really wealthy as time goes by! The income from growing/crafting things seemed overpowered to me so this helps a lot. It also makes fancy houses authentically expensive to live in.

The gallery is great too. I have issues with navigating it, but for content there's loads of great builds and sims to download when you start finding creators you like. I often edit the sims or remodel builds off there, I use it a lot to add interesting sims and builds to the world.

For gameplay mods I like simsonian library. The freelance entertainer, archeaology, and family history mods add loads of gameplay.

For DLC that makes the world more interesting, seasons is a big one for me, it makes all the worlds more dynamic and the changing seasons and calendar activities keep things interesting. It isn't like the same day over and over again.

I think EPs and game packs give a lot more for your money per € than stuff packs and kits. I do enjoy bowling night and castle estates though, I've gotten quite a lot out of those - but I like bowling and I like castles! It's a bit specific to you I think. But if you're on a budget, I'd definately lean towards EPs and game packs before anything else. They give more objects, gameplay and worlds to build in.

Thanks

I've always enjoyed the challenges where you play only one Sim in the household and let the others do their own thing. Or a modified version, where you play one Sim a day, so that everyone improves skills but slowly. 

1. Mccc is the only mod I have. I'm still navigating it
2.  I have quite a few of the packs. It depends on how you want to play though-like occults vs. non occults, etc. 
3. There's so many! Not to mention possibilities yet to be discovered. I like the idea of The Achievement Challenge going around. (Play 10 different legacies in one save.) But I don't have the wherewithal for it...
4. I'm still experimenting with this. 
5. I'm currently trying to figure out how to adapt rosannatxt's "Origin's Legacy Challenge", to my gameplay style. 

I'm also here to see others' ideas. >.> 

Mccc mod is a 111% Must-have

Another mod I'd recommend is "Fogity Hidden Highlight" ! It's an older mod (2016, I think), but it STILL works! It gets rid of that annoying highlight around Sims, when you put your cursor on them - makes for better screenshots! 

I don't have ideas for every point in you list but here is my way of gameplay:

[if your not interested in "perfectionating" you sims-world this may not fit, it's VERY nerdy...]

2. I like Expansion packs which gives my sims more "character". e.g. Cottage living, Island Living, Stranger Ville, Horse Ranch, Eco Life Style or also For Rent. (also some accessoires Packs are very nice for individuality.) But as atreya33​ already mentioned, this depends on you own interests of course).

3./5. I love spinning wheels and similar tools, (which are often used by James Turner e.g.) for new born sims. For every new born you randomize clothing style, favorite color, aspiration and hobbies etc. As soon our sim move out you will get a new challenge for CAS,  building and earning money. I never use money cheats, so if my family don't have enough money which could the next generation take to their new home it's gonna be a rags to riches under special conditions. This can end up in very funny and interesting combinations.

also 5(b).:

In my main game I started every World with exactly one couple or single sim which fits the style. I play them rotating. And at this point it really gets very nerdy, because I need a separate excel list/ family tree to manage them, especially with realistic aging.  When it comes to a new generation my sims usually have children with some of my other sims. I really enjoy to watch the genetics of my sims.

So, if you're not planning to play sims in most of your free time instead spending time with family on Christmas 5(b) may be a bad idea. But the spinning wheel for a rags to riches is always nice!

1. I have very few mods, mainly mccc and fixes.
2. Good expansions depend on what interests you most. Do you already have some? If you like fantasy, I would recommend realm of magic or werewolves. For family gameplay I would recommend growing together or parenthood. If you like your sims to run a business, businesses and hobbies might be your thing. You could also get a pack like seasons, get together or adventure awaits that have a more broader approach.
3. I really enjoy playing with my supersim and complete aspirations. Rags to riches is also a fun way to start a new household. If you want you could also go for a scenario.
4. I think the link from simgirl1010 should be a good start.
5. Depends on personal taste. No idea what to recommend. 

#4. Tips on improving game performance.

Dag Dag to Lag: Improving The Sims 4 Performance | EA Forums - 12913577

Edit: #2. What packs do you already have?